Patents Assigned to Kohler
  • Printed circuit board electrical machine
    Patent number: 11799342
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of conductors. The plurality of permanent magnets are arranged radially around a rotation axis of the electric machine and spaced apart from the rotation axis of the electric machine. At least one of the plurality of magnets has a shape in a plane of rotation intersected by the rotation axis. The plurality of conductors are arranged relative to the plurality of magnets and spaced apart from each other circumferentially around the rotation axis of the electric machine. At least one of the plurality of conductors includes a trace having a polygon shape different than the shape of the at least one of the plurality of magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson
  • Axially compressible bearing
    Patent number: 11795999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing configured to couple a faucet spout to a faucet body. The bearing includes a plurality of fingers extending parallel to a central axis of the bearing. The plurality of fingers is configured to engage with the faucet spout at an intermediate position between a first end of the bearing and a second end of the bearing. The fingers are configured to exert an outward pressure to the faucet spout. The fingers are also configured to compress in a substantially axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Frye, Gabriel M. Niederlander
  • Smart sink
    Patent number: 11795672
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sink assembly including a basin, an apron, and an apron module. The basin includes a floor and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the floor. The floor and the plurality of sidewalls together define a reservoir configured to receive fluid therein. The apron module is disposed within the volume and includes an audio system. The apron module may be sized to be fully received within the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Niels J. Eilmus, Rafael A. Rexach, Kristin S. Morehouse, Steven F. Ellingsen
  • Touchless Plumbing Control System
    Publication number: 20230333663
    Abstract: A control unit for a plumbing assembly includes a first sensor for sensing a gesture and at least one direction associated with the gesture. The control unit also includes a first pair of sensors arranged along a first axis of the control unit, which determine a velocity of the gesture along the first axis. The control unit includes a second pair of sensors arranged a long a second axis of the control unit, which determine a velocity of the gesture along the second axis. The control unit includes at least one controller operably coupled to the first sensor, the first pair of sensors, and the second pair of sensors, where the at least one controller adjusts an operational state of the plumbing assembly based on the velocity of the gesture along the first axis, the velocity of the gesture along the second axis, and the at least one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Gaurav Kumar Verma, Braden Daniel Schmidt, Drew Johnson, Nikhil Bangar, Nikhil Sanjay Ghatole, Jiunn Tyng Chen
  • Spray head
    Patent number: 11786919
    Abstract: A spray head assembly that includes a body configured to receive water; and a plurality of nozzles on or in the body, wherein the plurality of nozzles is configured to receive and discharge the water in a plurality of nonintersecting streams that together form a spray pattern having either a dotted “S” shape or a dotted “8” shape at a focal distance from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Perry Erickson
  • FIELD TRIMMABLE RECEPTOR
    Publication number: 20230320538
    Abstract: A method for installing a receptor in a shower environment includes measuring a distance between a drain of the shower environment and a wall of the shower environment. The method also includes identifying a marking on the receptor that corresponds to the distance. The marking indicates where to cut the receptor to remove a portion of a rim of the receptor such that an opening in the receptor aligns with the drain when the receptor is installed in the shower environment. The marking is identified from a plurality of different markings on the receptor, each of the plurality of different markings corresponding to a different distance. The method also includes cutting the receptor at a location indicated by the marking. The method also includes installing the receptor in the shower environment after cutting the receptor at the location indicated by the marking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. STOUT, Jose Luis Ortiz PALACIOS
  • Shower trim assembly
    Patent number: 11781296
    Abstract: A valve trim assembly for use in a shower environment. The valve trim assembly includes an outer covering and a valve assembly. The outer covering includes a first axis disposed through a midpoint of the outer covering. The valve assembly is at least partially disposed within the outer covering and configured to control a flow of fluid. The valve assembly includes a nut coupled to the outer covering, an adapter at least partially disposed within the nut and rotatable about the first axis, and an elongated joint coaxially aligned with the adapter. The nut and the adapter cooperatively define a joint where the adapter rotates within the nut to maintain engagement between the outer covering and a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Andrew James Stokes, Michael J. Strege
  • Method of making drawn sink having low-profile rim
    Patent number: 11781301
    Abstract: A method for making a sink with a supporting structure including providing a sink including at least one basin and a rim extending outwardly from at least one side of the at least one basin, and coupling a support structure in the form of at least one channel to an underside of the at least one side of the rim using a tool. The tool includes a channel support configured to receive one channel of the at least one channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jason R. Miller, Brian Siehr, Theodore Nikolai, Joseph Bolden
  • Sink having removable apron and accessory systems
    Patent number: 11781302
    Abstract: A sink system includes a basin and an apron. The basin includes a floor, a front wall, and a basin rim. The front wall is contiguous with the floor. The basin rim has a rim front side that is contiguous with the front wall. The rim front side includes an aperture. The apron includes an apron coupling wall. The apron coupling wall is configured to be coupled to the rim front side. The apron coupling wall includes an apron slot that is configured to be aligned with the aperture when the apron is coupled to the basin rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Evan M. Grybush, Steven F. Elllingsen, Niels J. Eilmus, Terrence K. Mahon
  • Vessel sink and method of installing same
    Patent number: 11771222
    Abstract: A sink includes a front wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The front wall includes an inner surface that defines part of a basin of the sink, and an outer surface located opposite the inner surface that is configured to be exposed in front of an opening of a cabinet in which the s sink is installed. The front wall includes first and second lateral portions that extend outwardly past the first and second side walls. The first and second lateral portions of the front wall are configured to at least partially overlap a front face of the cabinet adjacent the opening, so as to substantially conceal the opening when the sink is installed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jason R. Miller, Niels J. Eilmus
  • Reluctance sensor for detection of position of a rotor in an electric machine
    Patent number: 11777376
    Abstract: An electric machine includes at least a printed circuit board and a magnetically permeable element. The printed circuit board includes a reluctance coil configured to generate a voltage in presence of a magnetic flux. The magnetically permeable element has a first end positioned adjacent to a rotor of the electrical machine and a second end positioned adjacent to the coil of the printed circuit board. In some examples, rotation of the rotor causes a change in the magnetic flux through the magnetically permeable element and generation of the voltage across the reluctance coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson
  • Additive dispenser
    Patent number: 11773577
    Abstract: A liquid dosing apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a container into a liquid stream of a shower, toilet, or tap includes an adapter, a dosing mechanism, a damping control system, and a dispensing outlet. The adapter is arranged to detachable receive the container. The dosing mechanism includes a dosing chamber and a movable member. The dosing mechanism is arranged to draw a set volume of the liquid into the dosing chamber on activation by moving the moveable member in a first direction. The damping control system is arranged to control a dispensing rate of the set volume of the liquid by controlling return speed of the moveable member. The damping control system is arranged to allow and control adjustment of the dispensing rate. The dispensing outlet is arranged to dispense the liquid into the water stream at the controlled dispensing rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER MIRA LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian Thompson
  • AROMATIC FOG GENERATOR FOR BATHING ENVIRONMENTS
    Publication number: 20230302471
    Abstract: A well support assembly for a fragrance dispenser includes an upper cover including a plurality of chambers, a well support engaged with the upper cover proximate to the plurality of chambers, and a plurality of wells engaged with the well support. Each of the plurality of wells extends into a respective one of the plurality of chambers and is configured to receive a fragrance therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Stout, Stephen J. Bowen
  • Shower system
    Patent number: 11767930
    Abstract: A shower system includes a shower waterway and a fluid control valve. The shower waterway is configured to be coupled to a shower device. The fluid control valve is coupled to the shower waterway and comprises a valve body and a piston. The valve body includes a chamber and a reservoir. The piston is slidably coupled to the valve body and fluidly separates the chamber from the reservoir. The chamber includes a compressible gas. The piston is configured to slidably translate within the valve body to compress the compressible gas in response to a water pressure fluctuation in the shower waterway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Chad J. Cochart, Douglas J. Brouwer
  • Handshower
    Patent number: D1000370
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Margaret C. Mazz, Yutong Wu
  • Grab bar
    Patent number: D1001538
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Gregory De Swarte, Anna-Pia K. Slothower, Drew Johnson
  • Towel bar
    Patent number: D1001543
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Gregory De Swarte, Anna-Pia K. Slothower, Drew Johnson
  • Handshower
    Patent number: D1001967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Roque M. Corpuz, Jr., Brandon H. Miller
  • Faucet
    Patent number: D1002808
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia Ying Lee, Fei Ying Su, Ji Min Niu, Hui Ren
  • Showerhead
    Patent number: D1003395
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Margaret C. Mazz